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Villarreal fans visit Celtic supporters
IN a week when football has hit the headlines for the wrong reason, the sport's European governing body may find some comfort in a low-key trip by around 50 Spanish fans to Scotland.
For the third year in succession, supporters of La Liga side Villarreal are foresaking Mediterranean sunshine for the April showers of Glasgow in the name of friendship.
The bond was formed following the Uefa Cup exit of Celtic in 2004, when 8000 fans of the Glasgow club struck an alliance with the side.
Two visits have followed, including one with the mayor of the Valencia town. The friendship has largely been founded on charity collections organised for the son of a former Villarreal player, Ernesto Boixader. The youngster died of cancer just before the match between the two sides in April 2004.
Fans have since raised thousands of pounds for the Yorkhill Children's Hospital foundation in Glasgow.
Mr Boixader, now a physics teacher, said: "We've brought T-shirts this time saying friends forever', and that's it. The fans gave us such a feelgood factor it's still hard to describe."
Celtic chief executive Peter Lawwell said: "We're delighted again to extend a warm welcome to the Submari Celtic Supporters Club. A great friendship has developed between Celtic supporters and fans from Villareal. This is something we are very proud of and demonstrates the power which football has to bring people together.
"We hope the friendship between the two football clubs, and indeed the two cities, continues to flourish."
A Yorkhill Foundation spokeswoman added: "This is a fantastic testament to both sets of fans and we're very grateful to everyone for their support and their efforts in raising money."
10:16pmFriday6thApril2007